Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1859 — A Political Exposure in Minsesota. [ARTICLE]

A Political Exposure in Minsesota.

[From the ChatfKld (Minn.) Republican, Slst.

Governor Gorman Turns State's Evidence. We were much amused, a few days since. to hear a public conversation between ExGov. Gorman,and several citizens of Chatfield both Democrat and Republican, relative to the recent disclosures of James W. Lynde. The Ex-Governor, with creditable honesty, declared that he knew from his own personal knowledge, that the Rice men, headed by Henry M. Rice himself, did, two years ago, in Becker’s law office, fix up the plan by means ot which the canvass of the election in 1857 was made. The Governor further declares that it was known not to himselt, but to others in and around St. Paul that the first arrangement of H. M. Rice with the returns, defeated Sibley: but that this created such a row in the camp of the Breech Clouts, that Rice backed down and altered the plan, and Sibley was elected by the next arrangement, by 249 majority. Said the Governor, referring to the Democrats present, "we all know this, and yet these same tricky Breech Clout Moccasinites would set themselves up again, for honest Democrats to vote for.'’ Although one of Henry M Rice’s best friends in Chatfield, was present at this conversation, he did not dispute these damaging charges of the ExGovernor against Mr. Rice, simple contenting hiinself by opening and shutting his eyes in well feigned astonishment. If what the Ex-Governor said in the presence of his Democratic brethern be true, and we have no reason to doubit a word. Mr. Lynde's charges are all sustained, and are well known to be true by every prominent Democrat in the State. [From ttie St. Ua .l Micnrsot an. riM. G v. G .rrndl testifies to that which w e knew and eh.urged long ago. If is, as he intiin tes, an undouhfeu! fact, that the first forgeries tram • ('ass, Todd and Pembina,” did not afford efficient votes to elect Sibby! But. when the returns irom Like Superior were receiv 'd and found so unexpectedly f vorable to Ramsey, Rice was mad'* responsible up there by the Siblev branch of the M x c.ts'nites. A leading red-faced friend of Rice was thereupon heard to s.uv. “Woii, tin's Like Superior return has kicked up such a uss that to save II -nry tor Senator, we’ll now have to go to work and fix it up differently.” Then it was that the !;,ni us “Sunday Caucus 1 ol the Democratic.leaders, principally it riot wholly the chief Rice men! was held at the Aajerican House. There it was th -* decretory Chase stated .the footing up ol the return-! as t!i -y stood in his office, and said that “something must be done ur Ramsey was elected!” Teen it was that his brother, John N. Chase, was sent with bran new poll books from tiie Pioneer office, into the upper conn try, to have the necessary r ‘turns forged at Swan River and Crow Wing; which was all duly dune uccorwing to the Sunday caucus programme, at:J tiie new ‘•arrangement.” through a barefaced disregard of their oaths by Medary and Brow n, was made to'count Sibley into the Executive Chair. Bur, prior to his accepting tics canvass as just'and correct, another D in critic Caucus was n.‘l<i at lb - office of the M 'inesotii ami P icitie. R.ii road Company—Edward Rice, Presideri'. in the hack room thereof. Sibley. Ned Rice, Gorman, Steele, Col. Robertson and others, tin n and there dis cuss ■(! the advisability, either of taking advantage ot the known forgeries, just as they stood on the fraudulent record, or of'submitting to G v. Rinisey and the Republicans a proposition tor a lair investigation. Sibley ut this caucus submitted liis conscience and i ctions to the judgment of the assembled leaders. lie would do wlietever they said Was expedient lor the interests of the party. Tin y decided that, notwithstanding they all knew the returns to be forgeries, yet, as they were “on the record,” Sibiy and the parity should “take advantage ol them;” lie i should ace pt the l-audii! etlv-d tainei! olj lice: and Ramsey and the Republicans might, ■it th y chose, contest the Canvass “hefore ! the Supreme Conn"—in -inhers of which, w e he iieve, wi e • Iso present on the rascally ooc sioi:—but are not certain. One of the I If-ders, when “conte-ting before the Snip. me Court" was ment iofied, observed, sarI rustically, that "Ramsey- would have a good '•me of it before those true Democratic Jedges!" I liese are the facts. We are prepared to sustain them in a court of jtisiice. Ai.d we are glad one w ho knows so well tln-se ris caliiics of the Mocrusiiiite*. as G ,v. Gorman's - pport unities have allow -d him to uo, has mounted the witness'stand.